ASSAM VIOLENCE

INDIA

Assam govt responsible for violence in RHAC areas: AGP

February 12, 2013, 3:59 pm | Press Trust of India INDIA

Guwahati: Blaming the state government for violence in the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) areas of Assam, opposition Asom Gana Parishad on Tuesday said the situation had escalated due to "high-handedness" of the ruling Congress party. "The opposition parties, including the AGP, had asked the state government to hold talks and reach an understanding with the Rabha Hasong Joint Action Committee (RHJAC) before going for the panchayat polls in the RHAC areas," AGP president and former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said. "However, the government did not heed to the suggestions made by the opposition and went ahead with the announcement of the polls. This has led to current conflagration," he added. The AGP leader said the state government

POLITICS

Assam govt responsible for violence in RHAC areas: AGP

February 12, 2013, 3:59 pm | Press Trust of India POLITICS

Guwahati: Blaming the state government for violence in the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) areas of Assam, opposition Asom Gana Parishad on Tuesday said the situation had escalated due to "high-handedness" of the ruling Congress party. "The opposition parties, including the AGP, had asked the state government to hold talks and reach an understanding with the Rabha Hasong Joint Action Committee (RHJAC) before going for the panchayat polls in the RHAC areas," AGP president and former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said. "However, the government did not heed to the suggestions made by the opposition and went ahead with the announcement of the polls. This has led to current conflagration," he added. The AGP leader said the state government

INDIA

Four killed in fresh Assam violence

November 17, 2012, 10:21 am | Press Trust of India INDIA

Guwahati: Bodoland area in lower Assam witnessed fresh trouble with the killing of four persons by armed assailants in Jiaguri even as police arrested a member of Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District in connection with the killing. The assailants fired randomly on a group of persons at Jiaguri in Kokrajhar police station in which four persons were killed late last night, Inspector General of Police (BTAD) SN Singh said on Saturday. "Monokumar Brahma alias Jalja, a member of BTAD, was arrested early today in connection with the killing," he said. "Two AK-47 rifles, magazines of AK-47 rifles and 60 rounds of assorted ammunition were seized from his bedroom. He is currently being interrogated," he said. Indefinite curfew has been

POLITICS

Assam violence: PM speaks to Gogoi, death toll rises to 5

November 16, 2012, 6:04 am | CNN-IBN POLITICS

Guwahati: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called up Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi late on Thursday evening to discuss law and order situation in violence hit Bodoland Territorial Administered Districts (BTAD) where two person was killed taking the toll to five since November 10. Gogoi gave the Prime Minister, who is a Rajya Saba MP from the state, a detailed account of the situation and steps taken to control the violence. Gogoi claims he has also sought help from the Army Chief for a counter-insurgency plan. The Army has been conducting flag marches under a strict curfew, and a high level meet of state security officials will take place on Friday. Two people were killed in

POLITICS

PM talks to Tarun Gogoi over Assam violence

November 16, 2012, 1:40 am | Press Trust of India POLITICS

Guwahati: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called up Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday evening to discuss law and order situation in violence hit Bodoland Territorial Administered Districts (BTAD) where one person was killed taking the toll to six since November 10. Gogoi gave the Prime Minister, who is a Rajya Saba MP from the state, a detailed account of the situation and steps taken to control the violence, official sources told PTI. The Prime Minister told Gogoi that certain forces were acting in a planned manner to destabilise peace and security in the region. Singh said the government would take all measures to curb such activities and assured the state government help in restoring peace and normalcy.

INDIA

Assam: Violence in Kokrajhar, 3 dead in 3 days

November 12, 2012, 12:49 pm | CNN-IBN INDIA

Guwahati: Three persons have been killed as violence erupted in Kokrajhar. While two person were killed on Friday, November 10, another person was shot dead on Monday. A person was shot dead at Badugaon under Gossaigaon police station of Kokrajhar district on Friday and in the retaliatory attack, a youth was attacked with sharp weapons and killed at nearby Batlanmara village. Following the violence, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi directed Bodoland Territorial Administered Districts (BTAD) administration to take a firm action against the miscreants. An official statement said Gogoi directed both civil and police administrations to deal with the situation firmly and to ensure that such incidents did not recur. He asked Director General of Police Jayanta

INDIA

Assam ethnic trouble far from over: Shinde

September 14, 2012, 4:04 am | IANS INDIA

New Delhi: The Assam government has been warned that the situation arising out of the ethnic strife between Bodos and Muslims "is far from normal" and there was fear the communal tension may spread to other districts around the Bodo areas, said Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde. Shinde conveyed the assessment to the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his Race Course Residence here Thursday, said informed sources. The meeting was convened to mainly discuss the Assam violence witnessed since July 19 that has claimed 97 lives and left 4.8 lakh people in relief camps. Shinde gave an overall assessment of the Assam violence and the situation prevailing in the

INDIA

Rahul to visit troubled areas of Assam today

September 11, 2012, 2:33 am | Press Trust of India INDIA

New Delhi: Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi will visit the ethnic violence-hit areas of Assam on Tuesday. During his one day programme, Rahul will go to the trouble-torn districts including Dhubri and Kokrajhar, where the violence between the local Bodos and Bangladeshi settlers has snowballed into a major crisis. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia and Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde have already visited the state. During his visit, Rahul will also be meeting the victims taking refuge in some of the camps. More than 80 people have been killed in the violence. There was also exodus of northeasterners from states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra following rumours of backlash over the Assam

POLITICS

Rahul to visit troubled areas of Assam today

September 11, 2012, 2:33 am | Press Trust of India POLITICS

New Delhi: Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi will visit the ethnic violence-hit areas of Assam on Tuesday. During his one day programme, Rahul will go to the trouble-torn districts including Dhubri and Kokrajhar, where the violence between the local Bodos and Bangladeshi settlers has snowballed into a major crisis. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia and Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde have already visited the state. During his visit, Rahul will also be meeting the victims taking refuge in some of the camps. More than 80 people have been killed in the violence. There was also exodus of northeasterners from states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra following rumours of backlash over the Assam

INDIA

Assam: Shoot-at-sight order issued in Dhubri town

September 10, 2012, 12:01 am | Press Trust of India INDIA

Dhubri: Shoot-at-sight order has been issued on Sunday night in lower Assam's trouble-torn Dhubri town after a house was set on fire in the Indira Gandhi Road area even as indefinite curfew is on in Dhubri, official sources said. District Deputy Commissioner Kumud Chandra Kalita said that the order was issued after tension prevailed after a house was set ablaze by unidentified persons around 9.30 pm. "A panic situation was created among the people after news of the fire spread forcing thousands of them to come out on the streets despite curfew to flee from their homes," official sources said. Kalita said that the army, Rapid Action Force, CRPF were out to control the situation. Superintendent

POLITICS

Bangladeshis not behind Assam violence: Gogoi

September 9, 2012, 11:07 pm | CNN-IBN POLITICS

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said Muslims are outnumbering Hindus in Assam not because of the increase in illegal migration from Bangladesh but because Muslims are illiterate and bear more children. Speaking to Karan Thapar on Devil's Advocate, the Chief Minister took full responsibility for the communal riots and said that there were multiple reasons behind it. Here is an excerpt from the interview: Speaking on Devil's Advocate with Karan Thapar, the Assam Chief Minister said that his desire to be a part of the Presidential race stemmed from his desire to assert his rights as a citizen of India and as a tribal. Below is an edited transcript of the interview: Karan